Published: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 4:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 4:01 p.m.

After 32 years as the alumni coordinator at Nicholls State University, Raziano, known to her co-workers as "Raz," is stepping down.

"I was sitting in my office for the last time, with everything moved out, and it just kind of hit me all at once," Raziano said. "I've been through the good, the bad and the indifferent, and this is a very hard thing to walk away from."

Raziano has joined what she always refers to as "the Nicholls Family" in 1969, as a freshman student. Before graduating in December of 1973, she was named her class president and Miss Nicholls.

Raziano said the campus has changed dramatically since her days as a student.

"It's a totally different place," she said. "You look at these things like the new Rec Center and the Jazzman's coffee house and realize that those were things you never even thought about when I went to school."

As alumni director, Raziano's job has been "the chief cheerleader at Nicholls." She created the structured membership program for the school's alumni foundation, reintroduced a class ring, redesigned The Colonel alumni magazine and developed an alumni website.

She's also started several campus traditions, including the annual alumni crawfish boil and the Awards for Excellence ceremony.

Raziano said she may be stepping down, but she won't be slowing down. The school named her alumni director emeritus, and she views the title as more than simply honorary.

"I won't be able to just stay home. I won't be able to go from going 100 mph to zero," she said. "I still plan on being Nicholls' No. 1 cheerleader."

<p>Deborah Raziano said she's cried a lot during past few weeks. </p><p>Fortunately, she said, it's the good kind of tears.</p><p>After 32 years as the alumni coordinator at Nicholls State University, Raziano, known to her co-workers as "Raz," is stepping down. </p><p>"I was sitting in my office for the last time, with everything moved out, and it just kind of hit me all at once," Raziano said. "I've been through the good, the bad and the indifferent, and this is a very hard thing to walk away from."</p><p>Raziano has joined what she always refers to as "the Nicholls Family" in 1969, as a freshman student. Before graduating in December of 1973, she was named her class president and Miss Nicholls. </p><p>Raziano said the campus has changed dramatically since her days as a student.</p><p>"It's a totally different place," she said. "You look at these things like the new Rec Center and the Jazzman's coffee house and realize that those were things you never even thought about when I went to school."</p><p>As alumni director, Raziano's job has been "the chief cheerleader at Nicholls." She created the structured membership program for the school's alumni foundation, reintroduced a class ring, redesigned The Colonel alumni magazine and developed an alumni website. </p><p>She's also started several campus traditions, including the annual alumni crawfish boil and the Awards for Excellence ceremony. </p><p>Raziano said she may be stepping down, but she won't be slowing down. The school named her alumni director emeritus, and she views the title as more than simply honorary. </p><p>"I won't be able to just stay home. I won't be able to go from going 100 mph to zero," she said. "I still plan on being Nicholls' No. 1 cheerleader."</p><p>­</p>